Holiday BackPack Meals

November 2025

Article by Stephanie Hobby | Photo courtesy of Education Foundation

It’s a staggering yet often unseen reality: one in five people in Yellowstone County are food insecure. Back in 2007, nutritionist Ginny Mermel recognized that many students were going hungry when free and reduced-price school lunches weren’t available. She founded the Education Foundation’s BackPack Meals program with a simple but enduring mission: “Keeping kids fed, fit, and ready to learn, so they grow to be self-sufficient adults ready to earn.” Within six months, Mermel was volunteering to feed 300 students.

Today, the need is greater than ever. In 2022, Nikki Dolan stepped into the role of Food Insecurity Program Manager and now coordinates meals for more than 720 students.

Every Friday, or before an extended school break, qualifying students receive shelf-stable food to take home, not only to nourish themselves but often to share with younger siblings who aren’t yet in school.

“It’s an amazing program. We have a lot of community support, which is wonderful,” Dolan said. She noted that local businesses such as Pizza Hut, Taco John’s, Subway, McDonald’s, Crumbl, Jersey Mikes, and Dairy Queen have partnered with the program to add fun extras for the kids.

Working with contacts at every public school in Billings, as well as at the Lincoln Center and Rimrock Learning Center, Dolan helps identify students in need. Teachers and staff discreetly place food kits into backpacks, often during recess to maintain privacy.

Each Wednesday, a dedicated team of volunteers joins Dolan to pack the weekend food kits. More helping hands are especially needed before long school breaks, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, volunteers will be packing holiday kits on November 11 and December 8. Each kit also includes information about Family Service resources, including their Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes.

If you’d like to volunteer or support the BackPack Meals program, contact Jennifer Bennett at the Education Foundation at (406) 281-5149 or visit www.efbps.org.

Originally printed in the November 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Check this article out in the digital issue of Simply Local here!

Stephanie Hobby

Stephanie Hobby is married to an awesome Billings guy. They love skiing, hiking, traveling, and other adventures with their two fun kids and crazy dog.

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